Novolyne Cunningham

Novie Cunningham was so much more than the Herald’s obituary could communicate. Those demographics were absolutely accurate. She was born, July 15, 1926 and raised here, worshipped here, worked here, all 96 years of her life, all right here. And she was so much more.

Novie was a prayer warrior; she prayed for each of us, fervently and frequently. She had a prayer closet, a clump of trees out in the pasture, before most of us even knew what a prayer closet was. When her niece was diagnosed as having encephalitis that was terminal, not treatable, Novie and several women from her church drove to the hospital in San Antonio and prayed around the clock. God heard her prayers so very readily. On the front of her refrigerator she posted “It is hard to stumble when you are down on your knees”.

She loved passionately. Novie loved Howell, Linda, and Dianna more than life itself. When her daughter, Linda, died way too young, Novie’s faith in her Lord never waivered. She grieved and she believed. She loved company and always made a point of telling each of us that she loved us, as we came in and out of her life.

She demonstrated her love through action. She cooked for us. Favorites included fried okra, chocolate meringue pie, and tomatoes that she painstakingly peeled for Howell. She also individualized the menu for one of the nieces who preferred not to eat meatloaf. She rescued three kids, her daughter, one niece, and one nephew, who took apart their granddad’s parked vehicle, just to see what made it run. Then it didn’t run anymore and their granddad, Novie’s dad, considered killing us. She prevented our untimely deaths.

Her sweet spirit was her testimony, her legacy. One of her earlier jobs was at a laundromat in downtown Killeen. The work was hot and hard, yet she never stopped smiling. Novie was such a stalwart soul. At Creekside Terrace Rehabilitation, she was a favorite. Of course. She loved them, too. Novie battled through surgery and COVID at Creekside and remained their sweetest resident, still smiling.

Novie left us Saturday, November 26, 2022 and joined the Heavenly Hosts where she was greeted by the loved ones who had been waiting for her. They had a family reunion in her honor, this time at their location.

According to I Peter 3:3-4, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

Novie was all of this and so much more.

Heaven is so glad to have her and we are so sad.